Following the gazettal of the Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Ordinance 2021 on 31 May to implement improvements to the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the first elections (i.e. the Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections) were successfully held on 19 September. The Legislative Council General Election (LegCo Election) will come next on 19 December. Drawing on earlier experience, the Government will improve the polling arrangements and take forward various enhancement measures. We will also continue to ensure that the election will be conducted in a fair, open and honest manner in accordance with relevant legislation, thereby fully implementing the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong” and ensuring the steadfast and successful implementation of “One Country, Two Systems”.
The 2021 LegCo Election is the second election after improvements were made to the electoral system. The composition of the Legislative Council will expand to 90 members, with the third category of members to be returned by the newly established Election Committee in addition to members returned by functional constituencies and geographical constituencies through direct elections. This election is thus particularly meaningful for Hong Kong in realising good governance. As the backbone of the HKSAR Government, the civil service plays a vital role in implementing the principle of “One Country, Two Systems”. In this light, it is our obligatory duty to undertake electoral tasks so that the LegCo Election will be conducted smoothly.
Given that the total number of registered electors exceeds 4.4 million and the electoral arrangements involve the setting up of more than 620 polling stations, the distribution of ballot papers, the maintenance of order at polling stations and vote counting, the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) expects that more than 36 000 electoral staff are required on the polling day. To secure adequate manpower, it is necessary for us to assign suitable serving civil servants to work as electoral staff in different ranks and categories.
According to the relevant Civil Service Regulation, apart from the usual duties and other duties assigned by the Head of Department concerned, the duties of an officer shall also include any other duties which the Secretary for the Civil Service (in respect of work for another department or organisation) may call upon him to perform. In this connection, unlike the past practice of a first inviting enrolment from colleagues, I have given instruction to civil service colleagues assigned by Heads of Departments to take up electoral duties in the upcoming LegCo Election with a view to making the election a success.
REO will issue appointment letters from today and arrange colleagues to attend relevant briefing and training. Should there be any colleagues who fail to take up the duties or are absent from such duties on the polling day without authorisation, REO will refer their cases to their departments for follow-up actions in accordance with the disciplinary mechanism.
As the Chief Executive said, the double safeguards of The Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the improved electoral system of the HKSAR have ushered in a new era. It is time for us to strive ahead with renewed perseverance and plan for the future of Hong Kong. We must bear in mind that this stable era has come a long way. The efforts and support of civil service colleagues are essential to the smooth conduct of the election. I believe that all civil service colleagues will do your best in shouldering the responsibility and work together to ensure a smooth and well-organised election.